The question of elites and their replacement remains a major issue for the understanding of Southeast Asian societies, since the conflicts that opposed aristocratic castes and merchant bourgeoisies of foreign origins, to contemporary contest of military oligarchies by new pious intelligentsia. This panel intends to stimulate meaningful reflection on this topic by crossing different social sciences perspectives and approaches. The evolution of various elites strata, the constitution of different ways of life and knowledge, as well as the spatial dimension of networks, offer interesting comparative perspectives between Southeast Asian countries and beyond . The first panel will focus on training of political elites in Southeast Asian countries, from the first generation of nationalist leaders, often educated in a colonial context, to the ruling oligarchies reflecting the dominant position of economic and/or military circles. The second panel will consider the way elites from different Southeast Asian societies preserve their position or ascendancy over subaltern groups. The modes of legitimization of those elites, the way some individuals challenge or even replace them, will be addressed.